U.S. Census Bureau Daily Feature for July 22

WASHINGTON, July 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is the daily "Profile America" feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:

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THURSDAY, JULY 22: SOLO FLIGHT AROUND THE WORLD

Profile America -- Thursday, July 22nd.  An important aviation record was made on this date 77 years ago, as noted aviator Wiley Post landed on Long Island, New York, completing the first solo flight around the world.  In a feat of endurance, he made the trip in just under seven days, 19 hours, flying a Lockheed Vega monoplane called the "Winnie Mae," now in the National Air and Space Museum.  Post, blind in one eye, was an aviation pioneer who also held high-altitude records, flying in the first ever pressure suit.  Today, extremely long flights are commonplace.  In the U.S., 741 million passengers board the nation's airliners annually.  That works out to more than two flights a year for every man, woman, and child in the country.  You can find these and more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, online at www.census.gov.

Sources:  Kane's Famous First Facts, 1457

www.centennialofflight.gov

Statistical Abstract of the United States 2010, t. 1037

Profile America is produced by the Public Information Office of the U.S. Census Bureau. These daily features are available as produced segments, ready to air, on a monthly CD or on the Internet at http://www.census.gov (look for "Multimedia Gallery" by the "Newsroom" button).  

SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau